In the third week of August I will be going to my first track day ever. I will be going to a Driving Class/Track Day at Nelson Ledges in Ohio. I wanted to know how to prep the car for this day of wear and tear (and fun) at the track!

Here are my tentative list of inspections and changes before I go. I'd appreciate any insight on anything I'm forgetting and other opinions/advice!

Inspections:
1) Brakes/Brake Pads
2) General Engine Inspection
3) Tires Wear/Condition
4) General Fluid Check

Changes:
1) Transmission Oil
2) Rear Diff Fluid
3) Transfer Case Fluid
4) Brake Fluid
5) Engine Oil

My Evo is daily driven, 20k, oil changed regularly, never auto-x, drag strip a handful of times.

Mods include TBE, MBC, 255 fuel pump, dynoflash, rear strut bar, lower arms v2, tein s-techs, and 235/40/18 Kumho MXs.

Thanks!

 

If I may tag onto this thread, Im also curious about what kind of tire pressures people start at. Im doing my first event this weekend and I want safe and predictable handling.

 

Which event is this? From your list I think you're on top of things. Just check your lug nuts and remove all the loose stuff from the cabin. A well-maintained Evo is pretty much "veni, vidi, velociti" (I came, I saw, I drove fast). For tire pressure you should be safe starting at 35 cold, then adjust based on hot pressure and rollover.

Dave

 

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=147492

I've put enough money into modding the car, it's time to start modding the driver.

 

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=133720

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https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=115432

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=113580

 

post deleted

 

make sure you get your brakes flushed with a DOT 4 racing brake fluid like Motul 600 or ATE Super Blue. If you don't you'll have a lot of brake fade. Also get your pads checked and see if you have at least a half pad left.

If you have stock pads and in good condition you should be ok, but if you changed to other pads that are street only like regular hawks you'll have brake fade. I recommend running a street/track pad like Ferrodo DS2500. I've had good luck with stock pads too. If you can get the mitsu brake guides installed those will help with brake fade as well as they'll push more air to cool the rotors.

Other than that just make sure your tire pressure is ok, oil is good, coolant, lugs nuts are torqued and just give a basic visual to make sure everything is in it's proper place.

good luck and enjoy!

 

I wouldn't take this as gospel. Camber is a factor, how hard you're pushing is a factor, current track temp is a factor and what tires you're using is a factor. With my current set up I try to get 36 all around HOT.

I wouldn't worry so much on your first track event about your tranny fluids, besides just making sure you have some. Brake fluid and brake pads are critical. Check your engine oil level that morning and maybe in the middle of the day to make sure you still have plenty. Torque lugs to spec. Spend the rest of your time learning the line and soaking in as much info as you can. Your first track day is going to be one of the easiest on your car, but hardest on you. I wouldn't even bother with tire pressures on the first day.

 

I would start with the stock tire pressure and after the first set of laps, when you pull off, immediately check the tire pressure, then adjust as necessary. As has been stated, you'll want to be around 42 psi when you come off the track with the tires hot.

Also something to keep in mind, try to run unleaded racegas on a street map. You'll want the extra safety margin the better gas will provide. I generally make sure to show up with 1/4 tank of less of gas left and I fill up with racegas before the first session.

l8r)

 

Prepare A Lot Of Water !

 

Actually... I drank about 2 gallons of Powerade at my track school at Gingerman!


All the advices above are excellent! One thing I could add is put tape on your centercaps, just in case.... you know those RAYS centercaps cost like a million dollars a piece!

 

on the topic of fluid changing, I'd like to put in ATE Super Blue brake fluid. Where is the best place to order it from? Are there any local auto store/retailer that sells Super Blue off the shelf?

I saw www.raceshopper.com sells it however s/h is $8!

 

Here you go:

http://www.cobaltfriction.com/produc...dProduct=37141

 

Bumping an old thread. I just went to my first track day this past weekend. It was loads of fun, but I had no confidence in my brakes! They faded a lot, especially whenever I tried to step on it hard near the end of my sessions. I'm still on my stock pads, rotors, lines, and fluid at 20k miles. I was thinking the fade was more due to the stock pads since my pedal didn't feel too mushy. So changing my brake fluid should help eliminate most of my fading issues?

 

My stock brakes (10K miles prior to track day) were good for for about 2-3, 15min track sessions until I felt the ******* fade. Really scary. Apparently I was told I boiled my brake fluids. About a week after that track day, I had the stock fluid changed out to ATE Super Blue brake fluid and it felt much better.

You might want to check your pads out also. Apparently my stock rear pads are "paper thin" after my first track day, so I will be changing those out before an upcoming track day. Some Evos wear out the rear pads faster than the fronts, which is how mine was. This time around I will try the stock brakelines with newer pads and the Super Blue to see how well it does. But for sure I will try out a set of SS brake lines on the next sessions, per "track rat" friends, recommendations.